Five Alive

Vaisakhi

THE vibrant orange colour of the Sikh nation is proudly worn by thousands of revelers during Vaisakhi celebrations. But what is Vaisakhi all about?

The word “Vaisakhi” is derived from name of the month “Vaisakh”. Vaisakh extends over from 13th April till 14th May in the Indian Calendar. Prior to standardisation of the worldwide calendar, 1st day of the Vaisakh month (13th April), regarded as “Vaisakhi”, marked start of the New Year and accounting period. New Year’s celebrations coincided with the harvest season in the Punjab.

In 1699 the tenth guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, chose Vaisakhi as the occasion to transform the Sikhs into a family of saint soldier, known as the Khalsa Panth.

Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji founded the Khalsa in front of thousands at Anandpur Sahib. There are numerous accounts of the day. Unfortunately many original recounts of the day were destroyed in the years that followed and this has distorted the historical version that has been relayed to us.

However there is an eye witness account that exists is that of Abu-ul-Turani, who was a spy of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Abu-ul-Turani was posted in the Court (Darbar) of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and he was present in Anandpur Sahib on Vaisakhi, his account which is part of his memoirs can be accessed from the archives of Aligarh University. The translation of his account is as follows:

“The day Guru Gobind Singh prepared the nectar at Anandpur Sahib, the congregation was estimated to be around 35,000 to 40,000 Sikhs who had come from far and wide. I had seen the grandeur of the Mughal Darbars but this Darbar had a charm of its own – simply majestic and beyond explanation.

The Guru came on the stage and after drawing his sword demanded a head from the present congregation. This awesome call from the Guru sent a shiver through the spines of the congregation, but amidst all this a brave person emerged and with his hands clasped presented himself to the Guru. The Guru beheaded him in front of everyone on the stage and again asked for another head. Another person came on the stage and was also beheaded. The Guru called again one at a time, and three other Sikhs came on the stage and met the same fate as the previous ones.

The bodies and heads of five of these Sikhs which were lying on the stage were then cleaned with water and the stage was also cleaned and no trace of blood was left. The Guru then surgically stitched each head with a different body and then covered the bodies with white sheets.

He then ordered a stone urn to be brought to the stage and on top of it and iron cauldron (batta) was placed and He added some water to it. He next put his double-edged sword (Khanda) in it and started moving it while chanting some words (Gurbani). He took some time doing this and one woman from the Guru’s household (Mata Ajeet Kaur Jee) came and put something in the cauldron (sugar crystals). The nectar was now ready.

The Guru then removed the white sheet from one body and poured the nectar into his mouth, hair and on the body. Whilst doing this he pronounced “Vaaheguroo Jee Kaa Khalsa Vaaheguroo Jee Kee Fateh.” This person sat up and loudly chanted “Vaaheguroo Jee Kaa Khalsa Vaaheguroo Jee Kee Fateh.” The whole congregation was aghast and taken back by this miracle. The Guru did the same to the rest of the four Sikhs and they also like their counterparts rose up with shouts of “Vaaheguroo Jee Kaa Khalsa Vaaheguroo Jee Kee Fateh.”

The Guru then took these five Sikhs into a tent and when they re-emerged they were clad in new clothes. Then the Guru kneeled down and asked them to give Him the nectar. Obligingly they also gave him the nectar. The Guru named these five Sikhs Daya Singh, Dharam Singh, Himmat Singh, Mokham Singh & Sahib Singh, and also changed his own name from Gobind Rai to Gobind Singh.

I (Abu-ul-Turani) was very much impressed and my heart grieved to be under the Guru’s guidance and with a lump in my throat, I too approached the Guru and begged him to bless me with the nectar. The Guru smilingly obliged and initiated me and named me Ajmer Singh, thus with the Guru’s blessing I attained eternal bliss.

This was the last report I ever sent to Aurangzeb in which I also mentioned emphatically that the Guru is “God” and warned Aurangzeb that this enmity towards the Guru will lead to the downfall and destruction of his Empire.”

(The above narration has been verified by the great Sikh Scholar and Historian Dr. Ganda Singh).
If we take ourselves back to 1699 the real significance of why Guru Ji revealed the Khalsa can be comprehended. During the period around 1650, the country around Punjab was in turmoil; the rulers were corrupt; there was no rule of law; the rights of the common people were trampled on; justice did not prevail. The strong imposed their will and their way without question; the weak suffered constantly and quietly; there was misery everywhere. The weakest were slaughtered daily and no one heard their screams; the rich were accountable to no one and their wishes prevailed; higher authority could be easily bought with money and wealth; for the average person, no peace could be guaranteed; people lived like animals; fear gripped many nations. The minority ruled by imposing terror upon the common people; death was never far away from one's thoughts.

It was under these circumstances that Sri Guru Gobind Singh rose to the occasion and chose to create the Khalsa – the pure saint soldier. The Guru was looking for special people within the community who would take on the challenge and rise above the weakness of the common people; to be strong and fearless; to be prepared to face these challenges without reservation and without resorting to injustice; to be fair and even handed at all times; to be prepared to die for the truth. The Guru says the following about the Khalsa:

“The Khalsa is my true image. I dwell in the Khalsa”.

Vaisakhi should be considered a day of reflection for all of us. This is the time to listen carefully to that loud call of the Guru in 1699. What is that call saying? "I want the head of one dedicated Sikh!" Why not make it your head this year and realign your life to that of a saint soldier in the army of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

Ask not what your Guru can do for you; ask what you can do for your Guru! What will your Vaisakhi resolution be?